Pantothenic Acid

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) reference formula at a default of 500 mg per serving, developed as a capsule, tablet or powder.

Pantothenic Acid is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient vitamin B5 product around 500 mg per serving, with calcium D-pantothenate as the typical raw material. The brand sets the final amount for its market, and reference labels span 10 to 1,000 mg per serving.

Capsule is the lead format, with tablet and powder developed alongside. Most of the work is in the salt: the label amount is pantothenic acid, the raw material is a calcium salt that weighs more, and the fill weight has to carry that difference without growing the unit.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Pantothenic Acid500 mgCalcium D-pantothenate, specified as pantothenic acid equivalent; 500 mg pantothenic acid per servingSodium D-pantothenate or D-panthenol, with the input recalculated for the form

The amount is stated as mg of pantothenic acid. Calcium D-pantothenate (C18H32CaN2O10, 476.5 g/mol; PubChem CID 443753) carries two pantothenic acid units (C9H17NO5, 219.23 g/mol; PubChem CID 6613), so 500 mg pantothenic acid needs about 543 mg of the calcium salt (500 × 476.5 ÷ 438.46).

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around B vitamin intake. Pantothenic acid is included as the single vitamin so that the concept stays on one nutrient.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
B vitamin intake for energy metabolismPantothenic AcidA review reports that pantothenic acid (B5) is required for coenzyme A formation and is essential for the alpha-ketoglutarate and pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes as well as fatty acid oxidation [1]. Evidence: Referenced

The amount is a design choice. The review in [1] describes the role of pantothenic acid in mitochondrial energy metabolism and does not test this formula, so any claim on a finished product is reviewed for each market.

Available Formats

Reference labels are mostly capsules and tablets, with a smaller group of powders; these three formats are developed here.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Capsule1 capsulePantothenic acid 500 mg60 or 120 capsulesGelatin or vegetable capsule shell, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxideLead format; one capsule per serving
Tablet1 tabletPantothenic acid 500 mg60 or 100 tabletsMicrocrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearateCompressed unit; coating optional
Powder1 stick pack, 3 gPantothenic acid 500 mg30 stick packsSweetener, acid, flavor, flow agentDissolves into a drink

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. Calcium D-pantothenate is assumed at 100% purity, so 500 mg of pantothenic acid needs 543 mg of the salt per serving; the supplier’s assay is applied once the lot is chosen.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
CapsuleCalcium D-pantothenate 543 mg700 mg per capsule157 mgPowder flow, fill weight variation, disintegration, assay of the salt
TabletCalcium D-pantothenate 543 mg750 mg tablet weight207 mgCompression and hardness, disintegration, assay
PowderCalcium D-pantothenate 543 mg3 g per stick pack2,457 mgMoisture uptake, dissolution, taste

Liquid and gummy are separate projects, because a 500 mg salt dose changes taste and solubility work in those systems.

Formulation Considerations

Salt weight. The raw material weighs about 9% more than the pantothenic acid it delivers, and a 543 mg powder already fills most of a size 0 capsule. The specification states the basis as pantothenic acid equivalent, so labels and assays use the same figure.
Moisture sensitivity. Pantothenate salts attract moisture and clump, which affects flow in a capsule filler and sticking in a tablet press. Powder moisture limits, humidity-controlled blending and a desiccant in the pack are part of the plan.
Taste in a powder. At 500 mg the salt has a slightly bitter note, so the powder format relies on sweetener and acid choices that are tested for taste in the pilot run.
Form choice. D-panthenol is the alcohol form used mostly in other applications, and sodium D-pantothenate is an alternative salt with a different weight. Switching the form changes the input calculation and the stability profile.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount, the form, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
Pantothenic acid per serving250, 500 or 1000 mgExamples for the brand; unit size rises with the amount
FormCalcium D-pantothenate or sodium D-pantothenateInput recalculated for the salt weight
FormatCapsule, tablet or powderLiquid and gummy are separate projects
Add-onsOther B vitamins, magnesiumA second nutrient changes the fill weight and the blend plan

The pilot run confirms the salt assay against the 500 mg label amount, capsule fill weight and tablet hardness at the full salt load.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderLemon, orange, berryLight fruit and citrus flavors cover the bitter note of the salt

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (500 mg on the label of CF002197; example DSLD labels 13690, 23553, 25087). The label names the ingredient as pantothenic acid (calcium D-pantothenate).
SpecificationSet in formulationCalcium D-pantothenate at 500 mg pantothenic acid equivalent per serving; assay, moisture, microbial and heavy-metal limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Depeint F, Bruce WR, Shangari N, et al. Mitochondrial function and toxicity: role of the B vitamin family on mitochondrial energy metabolism. Chem Biol Interact. 2006;163(1-2):94-112. DOI · PubMed

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